Flamengo's Andre Santos says he wants to return to Turkey to play his club football

Flamengo and former Brazil international left-back Andre Santos has declared that he wishes to return to Turkey to play his club football after the World Cup is finished, claiming that he never wished to leave Fenerbahce in the first place.

The defender joined English side Arsenal in 2011 after a match-fixing scandal which imposed a sanction on the Turkish team.

Santos told news agency AMK: "The only reason I left was because the club was banned from the Champions League. I do not agree with the scandal. But I cannot forget that Instanbul is the best city."

"Everybody feels passionate about soccer. I will return to Turkey after the World Cup, but I do not know which club will be my fate. Fenerbahce maybe, or another club."

Santos, who won 24 Brazil caps, has also been linked with a move to Sivasspor, who are coached by fellow countryman and World Cup winner in 2002, Roberto Carlos.